The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1887-11-09

Saltwater, Minn. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 1887.

few Sundays ago by the unanimous and
simultaneous applause given at the close of
our deputy's remarks. What pity it is
that our unfortunate position will not admit
of any demonstration calculated to convey
some idea of the extent of our gratitude.
Isn't it wonderful what a great change has
been effected in this institution in SO short
a time? Everything is seemingly changed
for the better, and between you and me and
TIE MIRROR (whisper) I'll be teet0tally
cow-kicked if don't believe I'm myself bet
ter. And now. in the face of these stub
born facts. do you not think it would be
good idea to suspend operations on the new
solitary building and use the material to ell
large our chapei, as music and religion has,
and evidently will, continue to do more to-
ward bringing the good in a man to the sur
face than all the dungeons and. other forms
of punishment that in the guiSe OF ''inSpi-
ratiOns' present themselves to the minds of
such mad theorists as Dr. n. Ii. Tucker.
whose speech as delivered before the Nation
al Prison congress in Atlanta, Ga, had the
tone of the chronic crOaker? Verify, dear
doctor, ''much learning hath made thee
mad" Music. whether vocal or instrument
tai, is capable of penetrating the coolest
and hardest heart of man, and brings forth
the noble and good impulses that no amount
of elonuence could produce. Every
note is an appeal to our better nature. |
pity the man who thinks and feels other
wise. Religion teaches, or tries to teach,
brothery love. That one sentence effectu-
ally covers the ground. Brothery love;
That constitutes everything for the good of
mankind-"LOve your neighbOr as your
self" Did you ever stop and think what
beautiful world this would be to live in if
we all loved our neighbOr as OurSelf? Of
course you have. Every thoughtful man
has. venture to say you do your part to
| help bring about such state of affairs, but
you are disappointed. Your neighbOr does
not reciprOcate; he thinks to himself there
is no money in it, He has no use for you
unless he can use you to advantage; he will
make you believe he loves you all the time.
but you were too dull to discover the fact
that others are too jealous of their love to
bestow it on every Tom, Dick and Harry
with whom they come i'm contact. So
you see it is not very easy matter to
keep this law. Now, while | am a very
susceptible individual, still. in honest candOr.
[ must admit | have some neighbOrS that
would not desire to love me up to the car
ressing point: but that love is never entirely
| lost. L think is clearly set forth in the fol-
lowing lines:
In the long run, all love is paid by love,
Though undervalued by the hearts of earth,
The great eternal government above.
Keeps strict account and will redeem to work
| Give thy love freely, do not count the cost
SO beautiful thing is never lost,
In the long run.
| l will not close without expressing the
pleasure and happiness l felt OH a recent
Sunday when saw Father Murphy, dressed
in his priestly robes happy smile on his
pleasant fatherly cOuntenance. listening to
the choir singing. at his own request, one Of
those sOul-Stirng and elevating selections.
l feel safe in saying that by that one little
act of brOtherly love on the part of Father
Murphy. he increased. if it is possible, the
respect for him and his church among the
Protestant portion Of our congregation, and
certainly he lost hone among the Catholics.
The boys are always glad to hear and see
Father Murphy. The only regret is the alb
sence of music on the Sunday he conducts
services. Ask any of the 'bOys" and they
will tell you. Yes. 1 like to hear Father
Murphy preach, but it is fearful dull, you
know: no music, no singing" Too bad,
isn't it? Father Murphy loves the boys"
Protestants and Catholic. though he comes
down on them pretty hard sometimes; and
let us hope that he will make some efforts
to favor lis with this enjoyable, and | trust
profitable, addition to his already interesting
ceremony. j. S.
Nov. 4, 1887.